Look what I found . . .

[Timmyjoe]

After Roger Hicks thread about Maximum expense, time and effort I decided to take zuiko85's advice and explore the Minolta 16 solution for using my rolls of 16mm black and white film.

To that end I hunted down some Minolta 16 cartridges for reloading. Found a seller on eBay who claimed he had two cartridges, brand new, never opened, of Tri-X from back in the 1960's. I knew it would be expired, but thought I could at least use the cartridges, and measure the film within to get the proper length for cutting down my rolls.

The two carts arrived today and when I opened the package, this is what I found:

Darn, I thought, screwed by eBay again. Then I noticed something, the paper tape on both carts was not broken. Suspecting there may be exposed film inside I quickly dropped both carts into my changing bag. Sure enough. Processed the first roll and found it to be heavily fogged, but it appears to be a wedding back in the 1960's, and maybe the newlyweds home:

Stand developed the second roll and found what appears to be a vacation to Rome:

​

Nothing more fun than fifty year old found images.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Chrisrw]

What a wonderful find.

 

[segedi]

Have you shown these to the eBay seller?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Thanks for sharing!

I know where is one photog in Florida, who put a lot of effort and time to develop old exposed films. He is also one from Miami Street Photography Festival team.

 

[zuiko85]

Those are fantastic Timmyjoe. The cartridges are probably useable. I've had ones that looked like that. The white residue is left over from the original tape on the cartridge. I scrape off what I can using the edge of a dull xacto blade and remove the rest with very fine sandpaper, say 600 grit. Go to the dollar store and buy a package of those tiny dental brushes, the type that are supposed to clean between teeth. Take the caps off the feed and take up chamber and drag the brush outward through the felts to remove any grit. After that gently open the gaps a tiny bit where the film runs and use a blower to blow out any remaining dust.

To load the carts I tape a cord to the Kodak film boxes near the opening and tie a big knot at 19 inches. From the last loading I've left 1/2 inch of film hanging out from the carton before I snapped the lid closed. In the dark I open the carton, extract film to the length of the knot, snap the lid shut and cut the strip off 1/2 inch from the carton. I have a 5/16 wood dowel with a 16mm deep slot cut into one end with a xacto razor saw. I slip the end of the film into the slot and twirl the dowel, guiding the film and keeping it tight by letting the edge run along my finger and thumb. When I get to the end I slip the roll off the dowel and into the feed chamber, letting an inch or so hang out the light trap. Put the cap back on and you can do the rest in dim room light. Align the film with the take up barrel and tape it on with blue masking tape. Pull out enough film to slip it into the take up chamber and put the cap back on. Tape the caps on with 1 in. by 1/2 in. pieces of blue masking tape. Blue masking tape leaves less residue when removed.

That's it, you have a loaded cartridge.
Also, when you load film the perfs should be next to the cartridge bridge.

Let us know how it all works out.

 

[Moto-Uno]

^ I'd give money to be able to get that grain from any of my medium format photos!
Peter

 

[CliveC]

You gotta wonder about the story behind the film though: why were they never processed? Maybe worth posting to Reddit or something in the off chance somebody recognizes one of the people on that picture from the second roll.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Yeah, it was pretty interesting, felt like an archeologist unearthing a hidden treasure.

Tried to contact the eBay seller, but he doesn't respond to my emails or eBay Messages.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Rodchenko]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Thanks.

Was able to finally reach the eBay seller. He says he knows the people who shot the images, but after viewing the ones I shared with him, he said it would be too much of a hassle to contact them, and he didn't think the pictures were good enough to bother about.

So there you go.

If they were my pictures from the early 1960's, I would like someone to bother me about it.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Roger Hicks]

And some honeymoon shots, by the look of it. Last pic looks like the Crown Jewels (no, not those).

Cheers,

R.

 

[Nunley]

Looks amazing 😛